Voters in Lewiston have repealed an agreement that would have given some pieces of city land to a landlord whose properties were destroyed in a 2013 arson.The project would have brought affordable housing to Bartlett Street in Lewiston, which is where one building burned down.Phyllis St. Laurent owned both buildings destroyed by arson and had planned to build the housing on property owned by the city.But Mayor Robert Macdonald said the city has enough housing and more than 40 vacant buildings have been torn down so far.He expressed concern about building more housing that he said can attract people from other areas to come to Lewiston and take advantage of public services."When they bring these people in here, they just perpetuate the myth that Lewiston is nothing but a welfare place," Macdonald said.He noted the city has made progress in the downtown and plans to continue working on making it an attractive place to live.As for St. Laurent's project, she said she plans to continue building new housing. St. Laurent said the construction will benefit residents as well as the city, which will take in new tax revenue.

LEWISTON, Maine —

Voters in Lewiston have repealed an agreement that would have given some pieces of city land to a landlord whose properties were destroyed in a 2013 arson.

The project would have brought affordable housing to Bartlett Street in Lewiston, which is where one building burned down.

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Phyllis St. Laurent owned both buildings destroyed by arson and had planned to build the housing on property owned by the city.

But Mayor Robert Macdonald said the city has enough housing and more than 40 vacant buildings have been torn down so far.

He expressed concern about building more housing that he said can attract people from other areas to come to Lewiston and take advantage of public services.

"When they bring these people in here, they just perpetuate the myth that Lewiston is nothing but a welfare place," Macdonald said.

He noted the city has made progress in the downtown and plans to continue working on making it an attractive place to live.

As for St. Laurent's project, she said she plans to continue building new housing. St. Laurent said the construction will benefit residents as well as the city, which will take in new tax revenue.